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Tutu, the 1974 iconic master craft by Ben Enwonwu of Adetutu Ademiluyi, an Ife royal princess was auctioned in London at 101 New Bond Street London today. The most talked about painting of the year sold for £1.2 million, exceeding estimates and setting a record for the artist.
Enwonwu painted two other versions of Tutu but all three were lost. The particular iconic Nigerian painting went missing for decades and was found in a north London flat just few months ago.
The paintings gained fame not only for their beauty but also for their disappearance. The discovery is partly thanks to the efforts of Giles Peppiatt, Director of African art at Bonhams, who for years made it his mission to find the paintings.
At the auction, he said:
The portrait of Tutu is a national icon in Nigeria and of huge cultural significance. It is very exciting to have played a part in the discovery and sale of this remarkable work.
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